Teaneck archbishop is named patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church

By CHRIS HARRIS

Staff Writer |

The Record

TEANECK — Hundreds of enthusiastic well-wishers gathered outside St. Mark’s Cathedral on Saturday afternoon to congratulate and welcome back Cyril Aphrem Karim, the new worldwide patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

MARKO GEORGIEV/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the newly elected patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, accepting blessings Saturday at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Teaneck. Since 1996, he had been serving in Teaneck as archbishop of the church’s Eastern United States Diocese.

Karim, 48, who had been serving as archbishop of the church’s Eastern United States Diocese since moving to Teaneck in 1996, was elected March 31 to head one of the world’s oldest Christian sects.

Karim — whose official title will be Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East — returned Saturday from Damascus, where he was installed this week as the 123rd successor to St. Peter the Apostle.

He will reside in Syria.

During a service following his arrival, Karim asked those in attendance to pray for him and for peace in the church’s war-torn country of origin.

“There are formidable challenges we face as a church,” Karim said. “There is unprecedented turmoil in Syria. Pray for our beloved Syria to have peace again. Pray for peace in our homeland.”

His arrival had been eagerly anticipated by the crowd outside the Teaneck sanctuary.

“Here he comes!” a woman shouted as the Rolls-Royce Phantom carrying Karim and being escorted by Passaic and Bergen County Sheriff’s Department patrol cars made its way toward St. Mark’s.

A crush of the faithful from near — Paramus, Hackensack, Long Island — and far — Canada, Boston, Florida — swarmed around the arriving vehicle, showering it and the police cars with rice.

Most of the well-wishers were wearing pins adorned with Karim’s visage.

“I’m excited for him; he’s now patriarch,” said New Milford’s Paul Kas, a 20-year deacon at St. Mark’s. “But I am sad to see him go; I have known him for so long and he’s just a great, holy guy.”

Upon arriving outside his church, Karim — flanked by security — was draped in ornate robes while a garland of red flowers was placed around his neck.

The new patriarch, wearing three medals, slowly made his way to the sanctuary, smiling broadly and greeting his people, who kissed a large, golden key he was carrying.

At the steps of the church, he was met by various clergyman, strode along a red carpet to the doors, and disappeared inside.

Karim — who will appoint his own successor in Teaneck in the coming months — was saluted by a number of the church’s dignitaries.

Karim, who was born in Syria in 1965, succeeds Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas, who died March 21 in a hospital in Germany at 80.

His elevation comes at a turbulent time for Syrian Christians.

There have been recent assaults on mostly Christian towns by rebels fighting against President Bashar Assad’s rule — which the rebels see Christians as supporting.

Karim said he will work closely with the heads of other churches “to promote Christian unity” and told his people he felt “lucky to have been your bishop and your servant.”

He said that while he immediately started identifying his weaknesses after learning of his election, he knows “this divine calling does not come without divine help.”

He closed his remarks by asking for the faithful to “pray for me as I do pray for you.”

The Syriac Orthodox Church has more than 4 million members. Though many live in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, there are also significant communities living in Germany, Sweden and here in the United States.

Teaneck archbishop is named patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church

Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the newly elected patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, accepting blessings Saturday at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Teaneck. Since 1996, he had been serving in Teaneck as archbishop of the church’s Eastern United States Diocese.

By CHRIS HARRIS

Staff Writer |

The Record

TEANECK — Hundreds of enthusiastic well-wishers gathered outside St. Mark’s Cathedral on Saturday afternoon to congratulate and welcome back Cyril Aphrem Karim, the new worldwide patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Karim, 48, who had been serving as archbishop of the church’s Eastern United States Diocese since moving to Teaneck in 1996, was elected March 31 to head one of the world’s oldest Christian sects.

Karim — whose official title will be Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East — returned Saturday from Damascus, where he was installed this week as the 123rd successor to St. Peter the Apostle.

He will reside in Syria.

During a service following his arrival, Karim asked those in attendance to pray for him and for peace in the church’s war-torn country of origin.

“There are formidable challenges we face as a church,” Karim said. “There is unprecedented turmoil in Syria. Pray for our beloved Syria to have peace again. Pray for peace in our homeland.”

His arrival had been eagerly anticipated by the crowd outside the Teaneck sanctuary.

“Here he comes!” a woman shouted as the Rolls-Royce Phantom carrying Karim and being escorted by Passaic and Bergen County Sheriff’s Department patrol cars made its way toward St. Mark’s.

A crush of the faithful from near — Paramus, Hackensack, Long Island — and far — Canada, Boston, Florida — swarmed around the arriving vehicle, showering it and the police cars with rice.

Most of the well-wishers were wearing pins adorned with Karim’s visage.

“I’m excited for him; he’s now patriarch,” said New Milford’s Paul Kas, a 20-year deacon at St. Mark’s. “But I am sad to see him go; I have known him for so long and he’s just a great, holy guy.”

Upon arriving outside his church, Karim — flanked by security — was draped in ornate robes while a garland of red flowers was placed around his neck.

The new patriarch, wearing three medals, slowly made his way to the sanctuary, smiling broadly and greeting his people, who kissed a large, golden key he was carrying.

At the steps of the church, he was met by various clergyman, strode along a red carpet to the doors, and disappeared inside.

Karim — who will appoint his own successor in Teaneck in the coming months — was saluted by a number of the church’s dignitaries.

Karim, who was born in Syria in 1965, succeeds Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas, who died March 21 in a hospital in Germany at 80.

His elevation comes at a turbulent time for Syrian Christians.

There have been recent assaults on mostly Christian towns by rebels fighting against President Bashar Assad’s rule — which the rebels see Christians as supporting.

Karim said he will work closely with the heads of other churches “to promote Christian unity” and told his people he felt “lucky to have been your bishop and your servant.”

He said that while he immediately started identifying his weaknesses after learning of his election, he knows “this divine calling does not come without divine help.”

He closed his remarks by asking for the faithful to “pray for me as I do pray for you.”

The Syriac Orthodox Church has more than 4 million members. Though many live in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, there are also significant communities living in Germany, Sweden and here in the United States.